Mormon founder Joseph Smith back in court, 169 years after his martyrdom

Mormon founder Joseph Smith spent a lot of time in courtrooms, fighting allegations of wrongdoing and wrangling for his legal rights.

Finally, Smith was murdered June 27, 1844 — 169 years ago today — by an armed mob in Carthage, Ill., while awaiting yet another trial.

Now, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, a division of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and Illinois Supreme Court Preservation Commission, are taking up one of his cases in a re-enactment. And LDS apostle Dallin H. Oaks, former Utah Supreme Court justice, will weigh in.